Origins of atopy in pediatric asthma / 55

Hahn DL J Allergy Clin Immunol 2005; 115:425-426*

To my knowledge, this is the first time anyone suggested that C. pneumoniae infection might bias the immune system towards the “allergic phenotype” in asthma. Meta-analyses of epidemiological studies do not support the idea that allergies or atopy cause all or even most asthma (Pearce-1999, Pearce-2000). Alternatively, could an underlying cause for asthma also cause allergy as a byproduct, or “side-effect”?